Square. With 674,000 residents squeezed
into 45 squaremiles, the metropolisstands
second only to New York as the most
densely populated major U. S. city. Ris
ingproperty values and a strong tradition
of preservation have pitted multi-unit
developers against those who oppose de
structionof existing communities. Such is
sues are gristfor nearly 100 neighborhood
associations, which wield considerable
clout with local government.
White-collar industries now create the
majority of new jobs in San Francisco,the
bankingcapitalof the West and headquar
ters for more than 20 major corporations.
Advances in earthquake-resistant con
struction arefeatures of such skyscrapers
as the 52-story Bank of America building,
upper right, and TransamericaCorpora
tion's pyramid-a design initially de
plored but now increasinglyadmired as a
hallmark of the city's skyline.
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